Opening Up Space: A Lovely Technofeminist Opportunity

Marriage and Mary Lloyd

Frances Power Cobbe did not adhere to the societal expectations of marriage during the 19th century. Most women fell into the expectations of marrying as soon as possible to a man, hopefully of some status (Liggins, 33). However, Frances Power Cobbe identified as a lesbian, which although male homosexuality was strictly illegal, was not specifically outlawed. Rachel Dellamora in her book, “Friendship, Marriage, and "Between Women" described the frequency of marriage or relationships between women as something that was usually accepted in the upper-middle class during the Victorian era. Often labeled as close female friendships, many women had romantic relationships without the same backlash gay men and trans people received during this time period (Dellamora, 69).  Frances Power Cobbe found love with Mary Lloyd, a Welsh sculptor, whom she met in Rome, Italy. They both shared a passion for feminism and worked to advance woman's rights. Cobbe described their relationship as, "a friendship as nearly perfect as any earthly love may be" (351). The two women lived together from 1861 until Mary’s death in 1896, both earning their respective incomes from writing and art. Cobbe's relationship with Lloyd and lesbian identity heavily influenced much of Cobbe's work and stance on women's autonomy and rights. Unfortunately, there is not much documentation of the intimate details of their relationships due to the time period's stigmatization of unmarried women and the LGBTQ+ community.

Navigate to Being LGBTQ+ in the Late 19th Century to learn more about standards for sexuality during Cobbe's life. 

Mary Lloyd

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